My short review for the Wave 1 beginner freediving course is: If you're even slightly interested,…read moretake this course! Whether you're beginner or "advanced" but not certified, you won't regret it!! Since there were no other reviews here yet, I decided to also write an in-depth (see what I did there?) one. Now the long review... I'm so glad that I enrolled in the freediver certification course with Honolulu Freedivers. I've been an avid snorkeler for decades, competed in distance freestyle ocean swims, paddling competitions and triathlons--even taught some folks how to swim. I LOVE the ocean, BUT I also love to be able to BREATHE often, whenever I want to, even more. I could dive to pool depth, but needed to pop right back up. So, freediving was always kind of a unicorn. Prior to taking the certification course, holding my breath during the exertion of ocean dives was incredibly hard for me. Despite having good cardio, the urge to breathe while swimming underwater and the desire to surface was overwhelming. I tried watching hours of YouTube "expert" videos on my own. But it didn't really help, and in retrospect I'm lucky to not have accidentally drowned trying some of the stuff I saw. In the two-day, info-packed beginner course (Wave 1), Derek's instruction and his course materials helped me to fully understand my self-inflicted limitations. On the first day, extended my person best static (land) breath hold by a full minute! In the water, I was able to reach AND RELAX FOR A WHILE at a depth I would have thought impossible for me--then on day two, I DOUBLED that distance to earn my certification (20 meters). Derek is ultra-experienced, patient, friendly and puts safety first during dives. His assistant kept an extra set of eyes on us and provided additional instruction/feedback. The pre-dive breathe up and the post-dive recovery were drilled extensively because of their importance. He gave precise, helpful critiques. And, because he limits his class size, everyone had more than enough time and it was fun!! I felt very safe doing all the dives. Some went perfectly, and for the ones where I lapsed on technique, Derek was right there to keep me from making things worse for myself. Then at the surface after recovery he was quick to give corrective instruction for the next dive. Most importantly, I also learned how to confidently deal with dive buddy emergencies: shallow water blackout, loss of motor control, cramps, etc. I now have increased value as a dive buddy for my friends, family and fellow divers because of this class. With what I learned, I might save a life one day, maybe my own. An added bonus is that any diver certified through this class, has an open invitation to attend recurrent Honolulu Freedivers boat dives and weekly pool training, and also becomes a member of an international online community group (Molchanovs) where even more material is accessible. I took the class with two other friends and made a new friend, as a tourist also dropped in to attend. We all agreed it was well worth the investment! Thanks, Derek and V!!

Fantastic first-time Freedive experience; exceeded my expectations! Derek is an amazing freediver…read morewho excels as an instructor. His reputation as a patient and positive teacher is well deserved. He gave me the confidence to go further than I thought possible. Highly recommend! - Will

Freediving at its finest!…read more Go sign up and learn how to hold you breath for 3 minutes and dive to 66 ft!!

From the owner: FII Level 1 Certification, FII Basic Freediving Safety Course, Freediving depth and breath-hold…read moretraining, Apnea practice sessions, Line diving training sessions. CPR, First-Aid, and Oxygen training courses. We offer advanced scuba courses only. We do NOT rent gear.

I created a Yelp account just to write this review. This is the most amazing shark diving company…read more One Ocean Diving is the poster child of conservation and education. Once you try this dive, you will want to go more than once. It will change your perspective on sharks. The team at One Ocean is the best. They are hyper aware of the safety of their guests. They are kind, patient, warm, friendly, and happy to be there. Once you complete a dive you will become an advocate for sharks. They are really peaceful and mellow swimming around everyone. If you are on Oahu do not miss this opportunity. Skip the cage and go with One Ocean Diving. Thank you for a round two dive! I first tried this place in 2024. It was so good, I ended up returning for a second dive. A wonderful team of people trying to spread awareness and education.

There are many options for shark diving on the North Shore…read more One Ocean Diving seems like they are committed to the shark conservation, research, and education. You sign up online. With the times, if there are not enough they will consolidate times. We were signed up for 10am but got moved to 8am. You meet at Haleiwa docks near the blue hut (see photo). They provide mask, snorkel, and fins. You should bring a rash guard or wetsuit. The ride out is about 15 mins and as is typical in Hawaii, water can be choppy so you might get a little seasick. They give you instructions on the boat. Once there you hang on to a rope on the side of the boat and they take you individually to dive down closer to the sharks. We got lucky because there were tiger sharks (see photos). The cost is about $150 person but I would recommend paying some additional money for the go pro. You really want some documentation of what you did and saw. It's $50 for 2 people. They also have $250 option for photos and go pro but I think the go pro was enough. The people were really good and it was a great experience for all of us. Strongly recommend.

I took my 11 year old son to get his OW and my 16 year old daughter to get her AOW. Kaleb is the…read moreowner and was so helpful with coordinating our dive dates as a family. I was able to join the dives as a certified diver. Ed was the kids instructor and we all enjoyed diving with him. He was very patient and clearly communicated the dive lesson skills and goals for each dive. Our boat diver was Captain Demitri (Capt. D) and he was another fantastic person that made my kids have an awesome dive experience. A+ for all of these guys at Hawaiian Diving Adventures for there excellent customer service! You dont need to go anywhere else for any of your diving needs.

Callum is an awesome coach and trainer first time with my husband and daughter scuba diving…read moreadventure!! Since it's been 12-15 years since my last dive, I truly appreciate Callum's simple/clear instruction. He gave us all confidence before even that first dive; a terrific experience, for sure. The whole team was careful and appropriate for planning the best time for a dive, given the recent storms. Captain D is super friendly and drives the boat to areas that we could see dolphins- no one was in a hurry that we had to be back to the port, knowing that we wanted to see dolphins and maybe a whale off in the distance. Shannon M from Ashland, OR

When it was time to upgrade my short fins and diving mask that I literally found on the beach -…read moreWestside Dive & Tackle was the spot I decided to go to. I walked into a few other surf and snorkel spots but they mostly carried short fins. I went with the Leaderfins which are the most affordable carbon fins. The fins do come separately from the foot pocket, so I also got their forza foot pockets. They do offer a service where they put together your fins and foot pockets but only certain people are trained on that, so I did have to pick it up just a few days later- and that service is $30. I also got a pair of diving socks to go with my fins. They have different sizes, thicknesses, and cuts (high vs low). I also got a new diving mask and snorkel. The best thing about going to a dive shop is the ability to try things on and Westside Dive has so many different options. Being able to put on the foot pockets with the diving socks or even just trying on a few different masks to find the one that best fits your face is why it's better to come in person than buying online. The service was also super friendly. I was making some big purchases, so I wanted to make sure that each component was exactly right and the staff here was helpful and overall super chill. We talked story for a bit, exchanged where we like to go diving and even some fish recipes. If you're looking for diving gear, support local and check out Westside Dive!

KAYDENZE is the man! Love this shop! Always helps out! Thanks for setting up my bf pathosread more

This was, undoubtedly, one of the best decisions we've ever made! Ronnie, Megan, Ren, and Stacey…read moremade our first shark diving experience memorable- and we can't thank them enough! We saw dolphins, 3 Tiger Sharks, and Galapagos Sharks- we felt safe and in control the entire time. Ronnie and Megan were both brilliant and knowledgeable about the sea, animals, and conservation. Everyone was kind, patient, and friendly- even for a beginner like me. 10/10 HIGHLY recommend!

It's honestly hard for me to even put into words how much this experience means to me. Diving with…read moreHawaii Adventure Diving on the North Shore is something truly special, and every single time I go, it exceeds my expectations. The crew consistently goes above and beyond to make the experience both fun and safe especially Ro, Stacey, Terry, and Ronnie. Their professionalism, energy, and genuine care make all the difference. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in every detail of the dive. The optional photo package provided by Terry is worth every penny. I'm a certified diver and have had the opportunity to dive in several locations around the world, as well as with other companies on the North Shore, but none compare to this team. Hawaii Adventure Diving stands in a league of its own. This experience means the world to me. I travel to Hawaii every month for work, and I try to do this shark dive every time I'm here. That alone says everything. I won't be diving with any other shark diving companies on the North Shore, Hawaii Adventure Diving is simply the best!! The North Shore has been hit really hard recently with devastating flooding. Hawaii Adventure Diving's crew needs our support. Book your dive today!!

I learned about Affinity Freediving through Elaine's monthly community freediving meetups. At the…read moretime, I had only just started getting into freediving and was also new to the island, so the meetup was an opportunity to get connected to the freediving community and to make friends. Despite being a beginner, I felt very welcomed to the group and appreciated Elaine's careful attention to our group's safety and comfort. Her experience as a clinician and emphasis on mental health and making freediving as accessible as possible resonated with me, which is why I chose to take my Level 1 course with Affinity Diving. My experience with Affinity Diving exceeded all my expectations. Elaine was patient, receptive to various learning styles and experience levels in our group, and was able to tailor the course to meet everyone's individual needs. Our theory portion of the course was outside on Magic Island which was wonderful compared to a traditional classroom setting, and having the lagoon which meets the criteria for the confined water portion of the course was really nice because it was less cramped than a swimming pool which is more common for other courses. Elaine also provided nearly all the equipment including weight belts, weights, masks, fins, even spare neoprene pants and tops, which not all schools provide. This also gave us a chance to try out gear that we weren't all necessarily in the position to be able to upgrade right away. I passed my exam, but did not pass my skills test at the end of Day 2. Elaine was encouraging and unlike other instructors who leave it up to the student to reschedule make up sessions, Elaine took the initiative to offer times to reschedule to anyone that didn't pass, and encouraged me to continue attending the monthly community free diving meetups. I don't know of any other instructor or dive school who as as invested in their students success as Elaine, and about a month later after additional practice, I was able to come back and complete my final skills test. Affinity Freediving's commitment to inclusivity and community is genuine and I have come away from the course with lots of wonderful memories and new dive buddies. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say and would recommend this course and Elaine as instructor to anyone looking to discover freediving or take their existing skills to the next level. Mahalo! -Jess Chilinski

Elaine's instruction was exceptional! Tailored to my level, patient, and experienced. Def recommend…read morediving with her, Will be back for more!